Nur (Light) of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)

Friday Sermon: Nur (Light) of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)

January 22nd, 2010

Huzur gave a discourse on the nur of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in his Friday Sermon today. Huzur began elucidating the subject by reading extracts from the august writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that the wisdom and supremely excellent morals of this Prophet of God were such that they illuminated even before God’s revelation descended upon him (advent of prophethood). Explaining the Quranic term ‘…light upon light…’(24:36), he wrote that the Seal of the Prophets (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was already an amalgamation of light, on top of which the light of God’s revelation descended and he thus became a compilation of light. The Holy Qur’an calls him ‘Seerajum Muneera’ (lamp that gives bright light) (33:47) and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) explains that the exquisite wisdom in calling him thus is that one lamp can alight hundreds of thousands of lamps. In following the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) hundreds of thousands of people will attain a status and a general grace rather than an exclusive grace will be granted.

Citing ahadith Huzur expounded that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had said that the first ever thing that was created was his nur. That is, God had decided in the very beginning that the nur that was going to be granted to this Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was not going to be in the earlier ones or the latter ones. The blessed mother of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) saw in a dream that a light emerged from within her which illumined the palaces of Syria. Thus God had given the glad-tiding to the mother who had given birth to her son in widowhood and who herself did not live to see all of the childhood of her great son. She was consoled that her orphan son would not have a life of deprivation; rather his being would be a source of light for all humanity.

The blessed countenance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is described in one Hadith as, ‘dignified and handsome of face’ and his blessed face having the ‘resplendent shine of a full moon’. Another Hadith relates that a Companion saw him during a moon-lit night dressed in a red outfit, he would look at the moon and then at the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). To him, the Prophet was more attractive than the moon. It is related that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was fair of complexion, as if he was made of silver. The apparent light of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) could be seen by all. When the Companions saw him before accepting Islam, they would know this was not the face of a liar. As the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was called a lamp, because a lamp has the capacity to lighten thousand of lamps. This phenomenon was fulfilled in the life-time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that he would recognise those who would attain his light because on the Day of Judgement as they will be given their book of account in their right hand. Their faces will indicate that they had made prostrations [before God] with profusion and light will be in front of them. God has given this as an indication of the inheritors of Paradise that they will have light in front of them. About those who make prostrations and whose faces are illuminated, the Holy Qur’an states: ‘Thou seest them bowing and prostrating themselves in Prayer, seeking grace from Allah and His pleasure. Their mark is upon their faces, being the traces of prostrations.’(48:30). Huzur explained that light will be in front of these people because of their readiness to seek God’s pleasure and their endeavours to attain it. He said an Ahmadi should be most heedful of this.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said the one who goes to the mosque during hours of darkness is given the glad-tiding of perfect light on the Day of Judgement. Forgiveness and intercession is closely related to the blessed person of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Hadith relates that on the Day of Judgement when, having gathered the earlier ones and the latter ones, God will pass His judgement, the believers will say, who is it that will intercede to our Lord on our behalf. They will go to Adam (on whom be peace) as God had created him with His hands and ask him. Adam will send them to Nuh (on whom be peace). Nuh will send them to Ibrahim (on whom be peace) who will guide them to Moses (on whom be peace). Moses will send them on to Jesus (on whom be peace). Jesus will say, ‘I guide you to your un-lettered Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)’. Believers will then go to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). God will allow the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to stand before Him and intercede. God would then infuse Nur in the entire person of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The non-believers will then ask Iblees to intercede on their behalf for it was him who had led them astray. But he will be pushed towards Hell and he will say that certainly God had given you a true promise and it was I who had been disloyal about my promises. Such is the status of our Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that his nur would be more resplendent than all the other Prophets and it is him alone who will be given the authority of intercession. A thousand-fold Durud on the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in following whom one’s life and the Hereafter are enriched.

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said when it is morning everyone should say, ‘We have reached the morning and so has all of Allah’s sovereignty, Who is the Lord of all the worlds. O Allah, I ask You for the good of this day. I seek its triumph and help from You. I seek its light, blessing and guidance. I take refuge in You from the evil of this day and the evil of what follows it.’ He said, this should be repeated in the evening.

Huzur explained that in order to attain nur, God’s pleasure, and to enhance one’s life and the Hereafter, prayers are needed. The best way is nightly worship of God and the prescribed Prayers during the day. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him said) that whoever recites the verses in the beginning and at the end of Surah Al Kahf, the verses will become light for him from his head to toe. Whoever recites the entire Surah, it will become light for him between the heavens and the earth. Huzur said another Hadith recommends recitation of both the beginning and ending ten verses of Surah Al Kahf as protection against Dajjal. The evil of Dajjal is the evil of rejection of the Unity of God. There is a great need to recite these verses in the current age when Dajl is prevalent. Mere verbal recitation of the verses is not sufficient. One must also abide by the blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Another prayer the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) taught is: ‘O Allah, grant good to our hearts, make concord between us and guide us on the paths of peace. Save us from the darkness and bring us to the light. Save us from what is bad and evil whether it is open or hidden. Bless us in our ears, our eyes, our hearts, our wives and our children. Turn to us. You are Oft-turning with compassion and Ever Merciful. Make us thankful for Your blessing and make us among those who give thanks for it, give praise for it and accept it. Perfect Your blessing for us.’ Huzur said the greatest blessing for a believer is for him/her to be firm on faith, to do good work and abide by God’s commandments.

When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) offered his Tahajjud prayer, he would say, ‘O Allah, You alone are worthy of praise; You alone are Keeper of the heavens and the earth and whatever is therein. You alone are worthy of praise, Yours is the sovereignty over all that is in the heavens and the earth. You alone are worthy of praise. You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and whatever is therein. You alone are worthy of praise, Master of the heavens and the earth. You alone are worthy of praise, You are Truth, and Your promise is Truth, and the meeting with You is Truth, and Your word is Truth, and Paradise is Truth, and Hell is Truth. The Prophets are truth and Muhammad (peace and blessings be on him) is truth and the taking place of the Day of Judgement is Truth. O Allah! I turn to You, and believe in You, and I put my trust in You and submit to You with Your help I contest. I seek judgment from You alone. Forgive me my sins which I have committed in the past or those that I will commit in the future, and also the sins which I did in secret or in public. You are the First and You are the Last. There is none worthy of worship except You.’

A prayer of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him is: ‘O Allah, I am Your servant, the son of Your servant and Your maid. You hold me by my forelock. Your command is what controls me, and Your decree for me is based on justice. I beseech You by each one of Your Names, those which You use to refer to Yourself, or have taught to anyone of Your creation or have revealed in Your Book, or have chosen to keep hidden with You in the Unseen, to make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, the light of my breast and the source of removing my grief and sorrow.’ The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said Allah will take away the distress and grief of one who says this and replace it with joy. He was asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah, should we learn this?’ He said: ‘Of course; everyone who hears it should learn it.’ Huzur said he has explained in one of his previous sermons that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the Holy Qur’an are the light through which one can protect oneself from the attacks of Satan. Making the Qur’an the spring of one’s heart signifies read it, understanding it and putting its teachings in practice.

Another prayer of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is: ‘O Allah, I seek that special mercy of Yours through which You may guide my heart and settle my matters and make good my troubled matters. Unite me with those who have been apart from me and exalt those who are connected to me. Through Your mercy purify my deed and reveal guidance to me. May those who I love are united with me. Indeed, a special mercy that will protect me from every evil. O’ Allah bestow me an everlasting belief and certainty after which disbelief cannot be.’

Huzur said keeping in view the exalted status of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the fact that he used to say these prayers should make us realise the concentration with which we need to say them. The prayer continues:

‘I seek success from You in every decision and wish for a life with an acceptance and acquiescence of martyrs and triumph over enemy. Lord, I have come to You with my need. Even if my thought is defective and my planning weak, I am still in need of Your mercy. O Arbitrator of all matters and O’ One Who grants tranquillity to hearts I ask of You to save me from the torment of Fire as You save man in a turbulent sea. Save me from destruction and from the torment of grave. O’ my Lord, a prayer of which my thought may be unaware of and a matter for which I have not sought from You. Yes, a good for which I have not even been able to make an intention for, if You have promised that good to anyone from Your creation or are about to grant that good to anyone, I am inclined to all that good. O’ Lord of all the worlds, I seek that good from You, through Your mercy. Master of guidance, I seek peace from You on the Day of Judgement and wish for Paradise in that eternal period. Certainly, You are Most Merciful and Loving in the company of those who are near You and submit in Your Presence, those who prostrate to You and those who fulfil promises. Without doubt, You do what You will to do. O’ Allah make us those guided leaders who neither go astray nor do they lead others astray. ‘

Huzur said if the Muslims said this prayer with sincere intention they will be enabled to accept the Imam of the age. The prayer continues:

‘For Your love, we love each person who loves You and for Your sake, bear enmity to those who oppose You and are hostile. O Allah it is our humble prayer and its acceptance depends on You. O Allah, this prayer is all our endeavour and planning and all reliance is on You. O Allah instil light in my heart for me and also illuminate my grave. Make light in front of me and behind me, on my left and over me and under me. Fill my hearing with light and my sight with light, fill my hair with light and make my skin of light, instil light in my flesh and my blood, in my brain and my bones. O Allah infuse the greatness of light in my heart, make me a personification of light. Holy is He Who is Eminent and of Honour and Holy is He Whose Purity alone is worthy of mention. Holy is He Who grants grace and mercy, Holy is the Master of Eminence. Holy is He Master of Glory and Honour.’

Huzur prayed that may God enable us to understand and say this prayer and seek its beneficence. May we be blessed with that light which the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) brought. The compassion with which he made these prayers was for us to learn them. May God enable us to do everything to seek His pleasure and may we give precedence to the love of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) over all other loves of this world and in doing so, may we fulfil all his wishes and expectations of his ummah. May we, having sought the beneficence of ‘light upon light, honour the dues of ummah.